East European Studies MRes

The East European Studies MRes provides area-specific, language-oriented, advanced research training in the methodologies and approaches of economics, politics, sociology, history, culture and literature. The MRes offers two pathways: social sciences, and arts and humanities, enabling students to tailor the programme to suit their own experience and interests.

Key information

Programme starts

September 2017

Modes and duration

Full time: 2 years

Tuition fees (2017/18)

UK/EU:

£6,770 (FT)

Overseas:

£19,010 (FT)

Application dates

All applicants

Open: 3 October 2016

Close: 28 July 2017

Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Current Students website.

Location: London, Bloomsbury

Entry requirements

Normally an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

International students

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.

Select your country:

International equivalencies

About this degree

Students develop generic research skills, interdisciplinary and discipline specific research skills, area specific research skills and language skills oriented towards carrying out research in the region. The programme produces multidisciplinary researchers specialised in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, with language proficiency and cultural, historical and institutional awareness.

Students undertake modules to the value of 330 credits over two years: 150 credits are taken in year one and 180 in year two. Two pathways are available: social sciences, and arts and humanities.

The first year of the programme consists of a core language module (30 credits), optional modules (75 credits) and electives (30 credits). The second year consists of core modules, including language (45 credits), electives (30 credits) and dissertation (105 credits).

Core modules

Year One:

Beginner's New Language MA module offered at SSEES

Year Two:

Intermediate Language MA module offered at SSEES

Interdisciplinary Area Studies II

Optional modules

Social Science Pathway Year One

A choice of 75 credits from:

Quantitative Methods (15)

Advanced Quantitative Methods (15)

Qualitative Methods (15)

Political Analysis (15)

Political Sociology (15)

Comparative Analysis in Social and Political Research (15)

Understanding and Analysing Data (15)

Arts & Humanities Pathway Year One

Literary and Cultural Theory (30)

Political Analysis (15)

Political Sociology (15)

Comparative Analysis in Social and Political Research (15)

Historical Methods and Approaches (30)

Qualitative Methods (15)

Understanding and Analysing Data (15)

Both pathways take electives in years one and two and 30 credits of compulsory language in each year

Dissertation/report

All MRes students undertake an independent research project in the second year which culminates in a dissertation of 20,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, seminars and language classes. Students will be assessed by unseen and written examinations, coursework assignments, essays and the research dissertation.

Detailed module information

Funding

Up to five tuition fee studentships are available to prospective Home/EU MRes students at UCL's School of Slavonic & East European Studies.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Careers

With their specialist knowledge and language skills, SSEES Master's graduates can be found in business, finance, the media, international agencies, charities, diplomacy, international security organisations, the law, and academia.

Employability

Graduates of the programme will possess the attributes to complete a PhD within three years or to enter the labour market directly with advanced analytical and research skills, regional expertise and proficiency in a language of the area. The rigorous exams we set for our language courses mean that potential employers or prospective PhD supervisors will know that our graduates can work effectively with the languages they have studied.

Networking is facilitated by two major collaborations led by SSEES: CEELBAS and the International Master's (IMESS). Scholarships, internship opportunities and excellent links with other universities in the region provide further benefits.

Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2012–2014 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.

Why study this degree at UCL?

The UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies (SSEES) is a world-leading specialist institution, and the largest national centre in the UK, for the study of Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe and Russia.

The SSEES Library is unequalled in Britain for the depth and breadth of its collections, the majority of which are on open access in the SSEES building.

Research Excellence Framework (REF)

The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.

The following REF score was awarded to the department: SSEES - School of Slavonic & East European Studies79% rated 4* (world-leading) or 3* (internationally excellent)

What our students and staff say

Staff view

"UCL SSEES has a great team of researchers and lecturers in eastern and central European languages and cultures. It makes UCL a desirable place for investigating the so-called “Other” Europe. SSEES also has one of the best libraries that specialises in Eastern Europe."

Dr Urszula Chowaniec

As a teacher in Polish Language and Culture I have the opportunity to contribute nearly to any graduate programme connected to Polish culture/politics/literature and language. Mainly, Literature and Culture of Eastern Europe, History, Eastern European Politics. Teaching Fellow, School of Slavonic & East European Studies

Staff view

"UCL SSEES is a leading centre nationally and internationally for research and teaching in the field of Russian cinema, and the UCL SSEES Library has the largest holdings outside Russia of Russian film material (feature films, documentaries, newsreels, books, journals and databases). My current research focuses on early Russian cinema and in particular on both the representation of gender and the development of a specifically cinematic language in films made during the period 1908 to 1918."

Dr Rachel Morley

Russian Studies MA, East European Studies MRes UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies

Staff view

"UCL is an energetic place that is clearly on an upward trajectory, bustling with original thinkers doing cutting-edge work and incredibly talented students from all over the world. Definitely the place to study and do research at the beginning of the 21st century."

Professor Jan Kubik

UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies

Application and next steps

Applications

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

Who can apply?

The programme is suitable for students who wish to gain advanced research training in the language, culture and institutions of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. It provides an ideal foundation for a PhD degree, and a research career in both public and private sector organisations.